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Putin says certain macro indicators in Russian economy returning to pre-crisis level

The recession depth in the country in 2020 turned out to be "smaller than in many developed and developing economies," Putin said

NOVO-OGAREVO, January 21. /TASS/. The economic downturn in Russia on the back of the coronavirus pandemic was smaller than in many developed and developing economies and a range of macro indicators returned to the pre-crisis level by the end of the last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday when opening the meeting on economic issues.

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The recession depth in the country in 2020 turned out to be "smaller than in many developed and developing economies," the head of state said. "A range of macro indicators even returned at the end of the year to values before the epidemic," he added.

Specifically, this refers to railway transportation of goods, electricity consumption and certain other indicators, Putin said.

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The Russian defense minister "personally tested the special transportation vehicle and its running qualities"

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The Turkish leader also announced talks with Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Turkey on April 20

EU isolated in its 'blossoming garden,' reluctant to let strangers in — Russian diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya also pointed at the European Union’s double standards with regard to refugees from Ukraine and the Global South

Russia says its forces repel four Ukrainian counterattacks in Kupyansk area

The Ukrainian army losses were up to 70 servicemen, three motor vehicles, a D-30 howitzer, 2 Plastun-3000 electronic reconnaissance stations and a Nota electronic warfare station

Russian, Turkish senior diplomats discuss situation in Gaza

"The meeting focused on the situation in the region," said in the statement

Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

DPR leader reports heaviest fighting near Avdeyevka, Chasov Yar

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Israeli Air Force strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

The IDF also said that its soldiers were forced to open fire in the area in order to "remove an imminent threat"

German police apprehend two suspected Russian spies — media

The Der Spiegel magazine claims that the saboteurs’ targets included military cargo routes

G7 countries to prevent Iran from producing, purchasing weapons

The G7 finance ministers and Central Bank chiefs also condemned "the unprecedented attack against Israel by Iran"

Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

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Russian PM signs off on plan for regions to accommodate evacuees from Palestine

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VTB CEO calls for SWIFT to be fully abandoned in payments

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Former Ukrainian MP sees Zelensky turning into 'usurper' after his term expires

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Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

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Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

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The Russian defense minister has given his instructions to speed up the introduction of promising weapons that have been tested in the special military operation zone into service with the Russian Army

Erdogan accuses Israel of seeking to spread conflict throughout entire region

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FSB declassifies documents revealing Ukrainian infiltration of Red Army units during WWII

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Georgia’s parliament approves first reading of foreign agent bill

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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Number of people convicted of high treason in Russia last year revealed

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US believes that Russia tested 9M729 missile for range beyond 500 km

"All NATO allies agree that the 9M729 is not compliant with the INF Treaty," the US embassy’s spokesperson said

Nearly 18,000 houses flooded in Russia, operational services say

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Almost 3,000 shots fired at Russia’s Kursk Region during military operation

The region's governor Roman Starovoit said 50 apartment buildings, 975 single-family homes, two stores, seven social and cultural buildings have been restored in the region since the beginning of the special operation

India's new ambassador to Russia discusses high-level bilateral visits with Lavrov

"Ambassador Vinay Kumar paid a courtesy call on [Russian] Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov," the embassy said on its X page

G7 countries to continue examining possible ways of using frozen Russian assets

G7 countries are also set to take measures to counter alleged attempts to circumvent its price cap on Russian oil

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

According to the newspaper’s assessments, Russia "has never been closer to its goals" in the special military operation zone

Weather balloon neutralized in Russia’s central Kaluga Region — authorities

According to the report, the area around the discovered balloon was cordoned off and residents of nearby houses were evacuated

Russian software sales soaring over last four years — Minister

The number of employees in IT companies increased by 1.5 times over four years, Maksut Shadaev said

Iran withdraws officers out of Syria due to Israel’s potential strike — newspaper

The report said that the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement is also reducing the number of its officers in Syria

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Russian forces pummel Ukrainian army, equipment in 133 areas over past day

Russian troops took better frontline positions in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Top British diplomat refused to recognize Voronezh and Rostov as part of Russia — source

After Truss’ statements urging Moscow to move its forces, located on Russia’s soil, away from the border with Ukraine, Sergey Lavrov asked his British counterpart if she recognized Russia’s sovereignty over the Voronezh and Rostov Regions

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Israel planned to strike back at Iran on April 15, but decided to postpone, Axios reports

Israel told the US administration about the decision to wait, according to a US official

Georgian president says she will veto law on foreign agents

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Russia assumes that Security Council will soon return to Gaza ceasefire issue — diplomat

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EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

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Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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US not going to be in armed conflict with Russia — official

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Turkish foreign minister urges West to stop Israel, prevent war in region

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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EU summit urges to provide air defense systems and all necessary military aid to Kiev

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Iran may break through Israel’s air defenses in major attack by drones, missiles — expert

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Russian industrial producers’ prices up 2.4% in March — statistics

In chemicals production, prices edged up by 26.8% for ethers, organic peroxides, epoxides, acetals and semiacetals and their derivatives

Georgian protests against foreign agent bill reek of US influence — Medvedev

"The experienced and all-too-familiar Hollywood touch can be seen behind these rallies," the politician pointed out

Russia, CIS partners to hold air defense exercise in 2024

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US assured Israel that Iranian drones will be intercepted — US journalist Hersh

He also said that the US military contacted Russia and the United Kingdom while evaluating the potential of the Iranian attack

Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

The Russian president pointed out that Moscow’s "program of assistance to the African countries in sanitary and epidemiological well-being provides for the delivery of ten mobile high-containment biological laboratories"

Roscosmos chief notes high quality of Vostochny space center’s construction

Yury Borisov said that the space facility’s launch pad bore practically no visible signs of the recent Angara-A5 carrier rocket’s launch

Israel says its jets attacked Hezbollah air defense site in eastern Lebanon

I"DF soldiers recently carried out strikes to eliminate "an immediate threat" in the Qawqaba area in southern Lebanon," Israel Defense Forces said

Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

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Xi Jinping proposes four principles for resolving Ukrainian crisis

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EU vows new sanctions against Iran, calls on Mideast conflict parties to show restraint

The European Union is also poised to impose new sanctions on Iran, related to drones and missiles

'Iron Dome' can't fully protect from UAV swarms — Chinese expert

According to Wei Dongxu, Tehran's firepower can cover most of the Middle East region, representing a fierce and precise long-range retaliatory means

Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

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Russia restores gasoline production after decline — Energy Ministry

The increase in motor gasoline production in mid-April is associated with production recovery after a local drop due to unscheduled repairs at refineries

China to act over possible US measures for alleged support of Russian defense sector

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Russia maintains constructive dialogue with both Iran, Israel — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov mentioned a recent phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

Maria Zakharova also pointed to the fact that Ukraine's special services do not give up attempts to "massacre their former compatriots"

West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

Ukrainian drone attack damages four houses in Russia’s Voronezh

According to Governor Alexander Gusev, last night the air defenses on duty in the Voronezh Region detected and destroyed several air targets, including three weather probes